Getting RPC server is unavailable error while connecting to the remote device, communicating between two or more devices through a network? The RPC server is unavailable error means your Windows computer have a problem with communicating with other devices or machines through the network you use. Let’s Discuss What is RPC, And Why getting RPC server is unavailable error?

What is RPC?

RPC stands for Remote Procedure Call, which utilizes inter-processing communication technology for Windows processes within a network. This RPC works on the basis of a client-server communication model, wherein client and server need not always be a different machine. RPC can also be used to set up communication between different processes on a single machine.

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In RPC, a procedure call is initiated by a client system, which is encrypted and then sent to the server. The call is then decrypted by the server and a response is sent back to the client. RPC plays a vital role in managing devices remotely across a network and is used to share access to peripherals such as printers and scanners.

Reasons for RPC errors

There are various reasons behind this RPC error, such as Errors resolving a DNS or NetBIOS name, Problems with network connectivity, The RPC service or related services may not be running, File and printer sharing is not enabled etc.

Network connectivity issues (lack of a proper network connection might lead to server unavailability issues. In such cases, a client fails to send out a procedural call to the server resulting in the “RPC server unavailable” error. ).

DNS – Name resolution issue(client initiates a request, the request is sent to the server using its name, IP address, and port address. If an RPC server’s name is mapped to a wrong IP address, it results in client contacting the wrong server and can possibly result in an RPC error.)

A third-party firewall or any other security application running on a server, or on a client, might sometimes block the traffic from reaching the server on its TCP ports, resulting in the interruption of RPCs. Again Windows registry corruption cause different errors includes this RPC server is unavailable error etc.

Fix the RPC server is unavailable error

After understand What is RPC server, how It works on Windows server and Client computer And Different reason which may be causing RPC server unavailable error on Windows. Let’s Discuss the solutions to fix RPC server is unavailable Error.

Monitor and Configure the Firewall on your computer

As discussed before firewalls or any other security-related applications running on the system can block traffic from RPC requests. If you have a third-party firewall installed, try configuring it to allow incoming and outgoing connections for RPCs and other applications that you intend to use in RPCs.

If you are using Windows Firewall configure it to allow incoming and outgoing connections for RPCs and other applications by following steps.

First, open Control panel, search windows firewall. And then click Allow an app through Windows Firewall below Windows Firewall.

Allow an app through Windows Firewall

Then Scroll down to find Remote Assistance. Ensure its communication is enabled (All the boxes of this item are ticked).

Remote Assistance is enabled

Configure firewall properly

If you are using Windows firewall, open the Group Policy Object Editor snap-in (gpedit.msc) to edit the Group Policy object (GPO) that is used to manage Windows Firewall settings in your organization.

Check the network connection

Again Sometime due to network connection interruption occurs RPC server is unavailable” Error. So make sure your network connection is connected, configured and working properly.

To Check Internet connection Press Win+R keys to open the Run dialog. Type “ncpa.cpl” and press Enter key. The Network Connections window will appear. Here On the Network Connections window, right-click on the network connection you are using, and select Properties.

Here make sure to enable the “Internet Protocols” and the “File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks.” If any of these items are missing from the local area connection’s properties, you’ll need to reinstall them.

Check the network connection to fix RPC server error

Check RPC services function properly

“The RPC server is unavailable” problem can be caused by improper functioning of RPC service on every computer connected. We recommend to Check and make sure RPC related Services Running properly and not causing any issue.

To do this Open windows services by press win + R key, type services.msc and hit enter key. Then On the Services window, scroll down to find the items DCOM Server Process Launcher,Remote Procedure Call (RPC) and RPC Endpoint Mapper. Ensure their status is Running and their startup is set to Automatic.

If you find any required service isn’t working or is inactive, double-click on that service to get the properties window of that particular service. Here select the “Startup type” to be Automatic and start the service.

Check RPC services function properly

Also, Check some Related services such as Windows Management Instrumentation and TCP/IP NetBIOS Helper are running.

This way, you can make sure that all services required by RPC are intact and are properly functioning. In most cases, the problem will be solved by now. However, if the problem still persists, you might need to head to the next step for registry verification.

Now Press Win + R, type regedit and hit the enter key to open windows registry editor. Then Navigate to the following key.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\RpcSs

Here on middle pane double click on start And change its value to 2.

Note:If there is any item that does not exist in the image below shows then we suggested to reinstall your Windows.

Check Windows registry for RPC corruption

Again Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\DcomLaunch. See if there is any item missing. If you found DCOM Server Process Launcher was not correctly set, double click on Start registry key to edit its value. Set its value data to 2.

DCOM Server Process Launcher

Now Nevigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\RpcEptMapper. See if there is any item missing. If you previously found the setting of RPC Endpoint Mapperwas not correct, double click on Start registry key to edit its value. Again, set its value data to 2.

RPC Endpoint Mapper

After that close Registry editor and Restart, windows to take effect the changes. Now on next start check and try to connect remote device, I hope there is no more RPC server is unavailable error occur.

Performa System Restore

Sometimes it is possible that you have tried all of the methods above, and you still get the “RPC server is unavailable” error. In this case, we suggest performing System Restorewhich reverts windows settings to previous working state. Where system Working without any RPC error.

These are some most applicable solutions to fix RPC server is unavailable error on windows server / Client computers. I hope applying these solutions resolve this RPC server is unavailableerror. Still have any query, suggestion about this post feel free to discuss in comments. Also, Read Windows 10 keyboard shortcuts Ultimate Guide.